Sasco, An Arizona Ghost Town

Arizona, while a state primarily known for its phenomenal geology and scenic drives, also boasts some fascinating history in the form of its ghost towns. Sasco is an important example of an Arizona ghost town because so many of its ruins are still visible. Although it may require a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get there, and there will be lots of evidence of recent paint-ball parties, this ghost town has all the aura ghost hunters are after.

Sasco History.

Sasco, an acronym for the Arizona Smelting Company, was once home to about six hundred people. The community, founded in the early 1900s, featured the smelting company, a post office, a saloon, a hotel, homes, stores, and other buildings owned by the smelting company. Roughly thirty percent of Sasco’s residents mined for the smelting company. As prices for ore drastically diminished, the town began to fade as well. By 1919, the global influenza epidemic had spelled the end for this boomtown; the epidemic actually took more than a half million American lives across the country.

Sasco Ghost Town Haunts.

Sasco shows off its history to visitors. While many ghost towns have been transformed into modern day tourist attractions, Sasco retains its ghostly aura in the form of its ruins. Many building foundations still stand in maze-like fashion. Sections of the Hotel Rockland’s walls still stand. Even the towering smelter furnace can still be seen. Many of the walls sport spray paint because the site is frequently a haunt for teens and paintball parties.

The town’s cemetery, located just east of old town, is a traditional Mexican cemetery. Many of the grave sites are listed as unknowns, but they are “known” by some who still visit the markers with candles and flowers. A statue of the Virgin Mary is the cemetery’s focal point. Visitors will also want to stop by a structure which reads “City Hall;” this dwelling actually served as the town jail. With the sparse desert terrain surrounding Sasco, it certainly captures the essence of an old western ghost town.

Directions To Sasco.

Getting to Sasco generally requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Travelers should take Interstate 10 East (towards Tucson) to Red Rock Exit (exit 226), which is roughly eighty miles southeast of Phoenix. Then, travel down Sasco Road for about seven miles. This road can be rough and sometimes impassable after heavy rains; the Santa Cruz Wash, also called the Santa Cruz River, can be easily crossed with a four-wheeler during low water, but it is not safe to attempt after rains. Other areas can prove difficult after rain as well—mud can be an issue and some drivers have been stuck out in this backcountry. Be sure to bring a cell phone just in case. On the other hand, the rough ride is a treat for outdoor enthusiasts who like a good challenge! The ghost town of Silverbell is located nearby.

Some travelers prefer to take an alternate route to Sasco that winds around the west side of the Silverbell Mountains; however, the above route is actually the most direct—no routes are without hazards.